What Is Your Soil Really Telling You? Practical Lessons from the Farm
Alford Forest, Canterbury - Third Farmer Workshop facilitated by Jules Matthews
A shiny earthworm, hungry soil microbes and a surprising lesson about grazing rotations — sometimes the smallest clues reveal the biggest opportunities for better farming.
On 1 July 2026, Mountain River's Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Group gathered at Edendale Farming in Alford Forest, Canterbury, for its third farmer workshop, facilitated by Jules Matthews.
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Building on earlier workshops, the day brought farmers together to explore soil health, pasture diversity, nutrient balance and practical ways to build more resilient farming systems.
What Can a Shiny Worm Tell Us?
Sometimes the most useful clues about soil health are right beneath our feet.
Jules encouraged farmers to look more closely at the earthworms, roots and biological activity in their soils.
A shiny earthworm, for example, prompted discussion about calcium and the important relationships between soil biology, nutrient availability and plant health.
The message was simple: healthy soil is a living system, and learning to recognise what's happening beneath the surface can help farmers make better decisions above it.
Compaction, Diversity and Deeper Roots
Soil compaction can restrict root growth, water movement and biological activity.
The workshop explored how greater plant diversity and healthier root systems can help improve soil structure and resilience.
Different plant species bring different rooting patterns and functions, helping farmers make better use of the soil profile.
And when conditions become challenging, deeper roots can provide plants with greater access to moisture and nutrients.
Are Your Soil Microbes Going Hungry?
One of Jules' most memorable observations concerned the relationship between plants and the microorganisms living in the soil.
"So you want to feed your soil microbes, right?"
Plants provide much of the energy that supports soil microbial life through their roots.
Without enough living plants, that biological food supply can become limited.
Jules also highlighted the importance of soil aggregation — the way soil particles bind together — in supporting the movement of air and water.
The practical takeaway? Keeping living roots in the ground and encouraging plant diversity can help support the soil biology that productive farming depends on.
Understanding What's Really in Your Soil Test
The workshop also challenged farmers to look beyond a single soil pH reading when making fertiliser and lime decisions.
Jules discussed the importance of understanding calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, and how their relationships can influence soil management.
Rather than simply accepting a recommendation, farmers were encouraged to ask better questions and develop a deeper understanding of what their soil tests reveal.
Nature Doesn't Follow a 30-Day Rotation!
Perhaps one of the day's most thought-provoking messages was about flexibility.
Farming systems often rely on fixed grazing schedules — 15-day rounds, 30-day rotations or returning to the same paddock at the same time.
But nature doesn't operate to a fixed calendar.
Jules encouraged farmers to observe what is happening in their paddocks and adjust grazing decisions to reflect changing conditions.
Pasture growth, recovery, weather and animal requirements all influence the right decision at the right time.
The message wasn't to abandon planning, but to remain flexible and responsive to what the land is telling us.
Learning Together, Farming for the Future
From earthworms and soil microbes to grazing decisions and nutrient balance, the workshop encouraged farmers to question assumptions, share experiences and look more closely at how their farming systems function.
These practical discussions are an important part of Mountain River's work to support healthier landscapes, resilient farming systems and greater long-term value for deer farmers.
A big thank you to Edendale Farming for hosting the workshop, Jules Matthews for facilitating, and all the farmers who contributed their questions, observations and experiences.
Every opportunity to learn together helps build a stronger future for our Mountain River Community.
Watch the Workshop Highlights
We've shared six short videos from the workshop through the Mountain River Community Instagram page, capturing some of Jules' most memorable observations and practical advice.
What Can a Shiny Worm Tell Us? — Exploring earthworms, calcium and soil health.
Compaction and Diversity — Understanding soil compaction and the benefits of plant diversity.
Are Your Soil Microbes Starving? — Why living plants are so important for soil biology.
Looking Beyond Soil pH — Questioning fertiliser recommendations and understanding nutrient balance.
Nature Doesn't Follow a 30-Day Rotation — Why flexible grazing management matters.
Going Deeper Builds Resilience — How deeper roots can help pastures withstand challenging conditions.
Find Out More
Practical Lessons from the Soil — Conan Moynihan's Regenerative Farming Series — Revisit the practical soil health lessons from the second farmer workshop.
Mountain River Community Instagram — Follow the latest workshop videos and farming insights.
The Mountain River Future Value Project — Learn how the workshops contribute to Mountain River's wider work to support long-term farm resilience and profitability.